Hello,

Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thank you for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them. Although many pressing issues remain in Washington, the Senate is out of session until after Labor Day. I look forward to spending quality time in Kansas during the August state work period learning from my constituents.

This Week in Kansas

This week, I will host two important meetings in the state – a forum on U.S. Tax Reform and a roundtable with the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Joining me for a forum on U.S. Tax Reform tonight at 6 p.m. in Olathe is special guest Steven Hayes, chairman and president of Americans for Fair Taxation. The forum will inform Kansans about the FairTax – a proposal to replace our complicated and costly income-based, multi-tier tax system with one national sales tax – and render the IRS obsolete. Click here to learn more about the FairTax.

On Wednesday afternoon in Park City, I will host U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx at an aviation industry leaders roundtable including representatives from both state and local government. Sec. Foxx’s visit will also include a presentation by Wichita State University (WSU) President John Bardo and Vice President and Executive Director of the National Institute for Aviation Research John Tomblin and a meeting with Shawnee County officials regarding the Willard Bridge.

Announcing 2015 Service Academy Selection Board

I am pleased to announce the 20 members of this year’s Kansas Service Academy Selection Board who will help recommend candidates to attend the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Our country is fortunate to have so many intelligent, hard-working and patriotic young men and women interested in serving our country through the Armed Forces. I know the selection board will have a difficult time narrowing the field of qualified candidates, but I value their insight and thank them for their help in this important process. Members of the 2015 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board include:

• Bill Clifford, M.D., of Garden City – Ophthalmologist and U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Karen DeGraaf of Mulvane – U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Ardith Dunn, Ph.D., of Satanta – Retired high school mathematics/computer instructor, superintendent and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Ernie Honas of Gardner – Network Marketing Business Professional and served in the U.S. Navy
• Robin Jackson, Ph.D., of Hutchinson – Central Christian College Professor of Science and Mathematics
• Melissa Jarboe of Topeka – Military Veteran Project Founder and widow of U.S. Army Service Member
• Scott Jenkins of St. Francis – CEO Cheyenne County Hospital, Major Colorado Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Cheryl Kerns of Overland Park – Blue Valley West High School teacher and mother of U.S. Military Academy cadet
• Brian Kessens of Leawood – Managing Director Tortoise Capital and U.S. Military Academy Graduate
• Ryan Kriegshauser of Topeka – Director of Policy and Special Counsel Kansas Office of the Securities Commissioner and a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves
• Katrina Lewison of Manhattan – U.S. Military Academy Graduate and Purple Heart Recipient
• Wendell Maddox of Kansas City – United Way of Wyandotte County President and CEO and served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
• Jill McCarthy of Overland Park – Kansas City Area Development Council Vice President of Business Development and mother of U.S. Military Academy Graduate
• Lynne Murray, Ph.D., of Baldwin City – Baker University President and wife of U.S. Air Force Member
• John O’Leary of Wichita – Airbus Vice President of Engineering and U.S. Naval Academy Graduate
• Jayne Pearce of Wallace – Wallace County Visitors Bureau Marketing and Tourism Director, served in the U.S. Air Force and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Paula Ripple of Dodge City – Retired Dodge City High School English instructor and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
• Matt Treaster of Newton – Assistant United States Attorney and U.S. Naval Academy Graduate
• Samuel Treaster of Leawood – Retired Shawnee Mission Medical Center CEO, Vietnam War Veteran and served in the U.S. Army
• Ron Whitney of Emporia – American Legion Member, Veterans of Foreign War Member and served in the U.S. Army

I continued my Kansas Listening Tour this week with a stop in Pottawatomie County. On Monday, I stopped in Wamego where around 70 town hall attendees came to the Wamego Telecommunication Company to share concerns on a number of topics including the Iran Nuclear Deal, funding of Planned Parenthood and immigration. Thanks to Suzanne Hemphill and Jeff Wick for coordinating and hosting my visit.

Saturday morning I started my day listening to more than 20 Osage County residents at a Listening Tour stop in Lyndon. I appreciated the opportunity to personally visit with Kansans, answer their questions, and listen to the issues that are important to them. We covered several topics including frustrations with the VA, education, transportation and the potential closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center. Thanks to Julie Stutzman and Erin Burkdoll for their assistance in setting up this meeting. Thanks also to all who came out to share their Saturday morning with me including veteran Mike Martin who traveled from Miami County.

I stopped by Toledo’s Coffee and Deli in Marysville last Monday to attend Rotary Club. I enjoyed hearing from Superintendent Bill Mullins and scholarship recipient Tristan Schmitz. Tristan graduated from Marysville High School this past spring and I wish him the very best as he continues his studies at Manhattan Area Technical College. Thanks to Rotary Club President Jeff Sandstrom and all the Marysville club members for the warm welcome and great conversation.

East Kansas Agri-Energy 10-Year Celebration
This weekend, I spoke at the East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) 10th Anniversary Celebration in Garnett. EKAE is is quintessential Kansas: local leaders recognized a need, put a plan in place to make it happen, and then followed that plan until it was completed. The work done at EKAE provides both local and national benefits. Jobs have been created, investments in technology and infrastructure have been made, and product has been moved to market – all to the benefit of the local economy. Thanks again to EKAE and particularly CEO Jeff Oestmann for the opportunity, and I look forward to future celebrations of success with EKAE and the Garnett community.

Roy Pershall of Topeka 

Staci Pershall of Topeka

Julia Pershall of Topeka

Charles Pershall of Topeka

Ruth Pershall of Topeka

Gail Dreiling of Ellis

David Dreiling of Ellis

Washington Roman of Olathe

Andy Roman of Olathe

Eric Roman of Olathe

Dolores Ortega of Olathe

Paola Andrade of Olathe

Ed Manda of Lawrence

Honored to Serve You in Washington

It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.

Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry